Fang Gao

Biography

Fang Gao breathes life into her passion and love for music through captivating performances on both baroque and modern violins. Born in Tianjin, China, Ms. Gao started her modern violin studies at the age of four. She received the Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in 2011. During her time in China, she served as a faculty member at the Wenning Guan Studio for Strings and Musical Arts, Tianjin Conservatory of Music and also taught at the Tianjin Sunshine School of Arts. Additionally, she was a member of the Tianjin TEDA Symphony Orchestra.

In 2012, Ms. Gao followed her heart to the United States to be with her husband, Dr. Weicheng Zhao. In the following year, she enrolled in the Graduate Certificate program and studied with Susan Feldman in Baroque Violin Performance at the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, while holding a Colburn Foundation Scholarship. Private study of Baroque Violin has been with Elizabeth Blumenstock, David Wilson and study of Modern Violin has been with Suli Xue and Lynn Blakeslee. In 2014, She entered the Concerto and Solo String Division Competitions sponsored by the California Association of Professional Music Teachers who gave her the highest rating of Unanimous Superior.

Ms. Gao has experienced profound joy throughout her career in performing on both baroque and modern violins, crafting enchanting musical experiences alongside her husband in concerts in the United States and Canada. As an ensemble member, she has been featured at events such as the Corona del Mar Baroque Music Festival and the Berkeley Early Music Festival, among others. She plays a Baroque violin made in London in 1779 by John Crowther for the shop of John Kennedy, adding a touch of history to her performances.

Ms. Gao currently serves as an instructor at the Arcadia Conservatory of Music and runs her private studio, nurturing the next generation of violinists. Her accomplishments and commitment to education have garnered recognition, leading to interviews with TV stations such as KSCI in Southern California and Fairchild TV from Canada.